I am almost ready to Pull the plug and leave

[sanemax]

44 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Without using (or owning) a management company, how does one live in Thailand and manage their rentals in the US?

 

Can get most things sorted out or fixed online 

[mogandave]

Can get most things sorted out or fixed online 

Should have known

[marcusarelus]

On 9/19/2018 at 3:31 PM, GinBoy2 said:

I am totally onboard with having a bolt hole.

 

I’ve said this in many threads over the years. I’m always amazed at how many seem to think that selling up their entire life to go to Thailand, where you are at best a temporary ‘guest’, is a good idea. If not insane, it's reckless at best.

 

You never know what could happen. The regime du jour changes immigration policy, woman problems, health...the list goes on and on.

 

All the time I lived in Thailand, I still had a house back in the States, which I knew I could always, and as it happens ultimately did, return to.

If I bought 20,000 baht worth of gold in Thailand in 1968 and put it in a safety deposit box here now it would be worth about 800,000 baht does that sound insane or reckless to you? 

 

Someone can check if my gold figures are correct.  I think they might be low. 

[steve73]

10 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

If I bought 20,000 baht worth of gold in Thailand in 1968 and put it in a safety deposit box here now it would be worth about 800,000 baht does that sound insane or reckless to you? 

 

Someone can check if my gold figures are correct.  I think they might be low. 

As best I can find out, in 1970, there were around 20bt/$, and gold was c. $40/oz.

So your 20,000bt, would have bought you around 25 oz of gold.

That would now be worth $30,000 or almost 1 Million bt.

 

Of course, you could have bought 7 Bitcoin (costing around 20,000 bt) much more recently during 2013, which would now also now be worth around 1MMbt (or 3MM in Jan).

[Nemises]

Are you allowed to put gold in banks safety deposit boxes?

[mogandave]

Are you allowed to put gold in banks safety deposit boxes?

No, only papers

[Nemises]

If I bought 20,000 baht worth of gold in Thailand in 1968 and put it in a safety deposit box here now it would be worth about 800,000

Not possible - no gold allowed in deposit boxes, apparently.

[marcusarelus]

18 minutes ago, mogandave said:

No, only papers

Oh my and here I've been doing it all these years.  You go into this little room and you are alone with the box. 

 

There are three main ways to store gold:

At home

In a safety deposit box

With a bullion dealer

https://www.goldindustrygroup.com.au/news/2017/3/7/buying-gold-where-to-store

 

Everyone I know stores jewelry in safety deposit boxes and jewelry has or is gold.  I think it's OK.

 

Edited September 21, 2018 by marcusarelus

[HAKAPALITA]

Cant beat having F.O.Money like a Tuna Driver. !

[Bournville]

Hey! Stay on topic! This was an interesting thread. Thx

Be happy

[Rc2702]

Just now, Bournville said:

Hey! Stay on topic! This was an interesting thread. Thx

Be happy
 

Bournville, Cadbury where's nestle?

[HAKAPALITA]

Normally the Plug gets pulled for them. Off they go back to Handout Land where they came from.Thai Lady better off, House and Pikup n Brit Baldy free at last.Or you get the ones who try to kid you they are making the call to leave, when their skint in reality.

[meechai]

21 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Call me "stupid" if you want. I don't think I'm stupid but whether some strangers on the internet think I am isn't going to keep me up at night. 

 

The term "stupid people" was directed at an example of folks MoganDave described not you

 

You perhaps were foolish/ill informed or neither I do not know.

 

I guess the simple test would be to look at price you got what 12 years or so ago?

Then look at price today of same asset.

If it went down your neither

 

If it went up well...you could have done much better..No real market timing involved

unless you bought in  a ghetto

 

Selling/mortgage etc is all the same..You get paid your current equity

But with one your done after one round. With the other you may repeat many times in your life on the exact same asset

while letting others pay it off. Yes some pay a management fee boo hoo.... who cares? House paid you in full many times

 

In any case not interested in your test result..just saying that is the simple litmus test.

The other of course is selling an asset for another asset that outperformed the one you sold.

 

Somehow I think not what happened in your case given your long running thread in search of the bottom of the US areas to

relocate to ?

Edited September 22, 2018 by meechai

[mogandave]

And had one sold and bought a NASDAQ index fund 12 years ago it would be up 300%...

[Dick Crank]

On September 21, 2018 at 5:44 PM, HAKAPALITA said:

Brit Baldy

 

Benny hill?

 

 

[simoh1490]

Well, I'm actively pulling the plug and getting ready to leave..... the UK, in exactly one weeks time before returning to Thailand!

 

It's been an interesting but very mixed three months back in the UK: I've gorged on all the foodstuffs I had missed for so long and I've visited all the sights I had longed to see once again, the Lakes, the Dales, and London. I've loved the cheese, the bread, the real ale, the Cornish pasties, steak and kidney pies, Cumberland sausages and sensibly priced red wine - I've eaten far to much good quality fish and chips and I doubt I could ever face another Greggs bacon bap again in my lifetime. Despite all the gluttony, my weight is down two kilo's over my weight in Thailand and my annual blood tests are some of the best I've ever had....I put those things down to walking everywhere rather than driving as I would in Thailand.

 

The banter has been good, the people friendly and polite and the medical profession highly professional - it was a joy to sit with a real GP who was fully trained and knew exactly what she was doing, heading off issues before they even became issues and answering questions before they were even asked.

 

So why leave all that you may wonder. The weather for one, I've seen only a handful of truly nice weather days and a bucketful of cold grey ones, it's rained more often than not and the past three weeks have been dire, the prospect of winter here scares me.

 

And whilst I have been known to get bored in Thailand from time to time I have been seriously bored in the UK this trip because there are so few options - unless you have family and close friends here and/or unless you live in an area such as London where there are lots of inexpensive entertainment options, living in a large town means your most probable options are work, TV, the pub, a good book or sleep. At least back home in Thailand I have my garden and a climate that allows me to do almost anything outdoors and to plan it in advance. Talking of planning in advance: unless you run a car in the UK all travel has to be booked at least a month in advance otherwise the cost of tickets and hotels rises massively, apart from bus pass travel that is.

 

My advice to people thinking of pulling the plug and leaving Thailand: by all means pull it but be ready to push it back in quickly, try going home for a few months and see how you feel about things - the first four to six weeks are probably the hardest so give it some time. I've given it thirteen weeks and I've decided, the UK is a nice place to visit but Thailand is my home, it's the place I want to be and where I'm the happiest.

[bwpage3]

4 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

Well, I'm actively pulling the plug and getting ready to leave..... the UK, in exactly one weeks time before returning to Thailand!

 

It's been an interesting but very mixed three months back in the UK: I've gorged on all the foodstuffs I had missed for so long and I've visited all the sights I had longed to see once again, the Lakes, the Dales, and London. I've loved the cheese, the bread, the real ale, the Cornish pasties, steak and kidney pies, Cumberland sausages and sensibly priced red wine - I've eaten far to much good quality fish and chips and I doubt I could ever face another Greggs bacon bap again in my lifetime. Despite all the gluttony, my weight is down two kilo's over my weight in Thailand and my annual blood tests are some of the best I've ever had....I put those things down to walking everywhere rather than driving as I would in Thailand.

 

The banter has been good, the people friendly and polite and the medical profession highly professional - it was a joy to sit with a real GP who was fully trained and knew exactly what she was doing, heading off issues before they even became issues and answering questions before they were even asked.

 

So why leave all that you may wonder. The weather for one, I've seen only a handful of truly nice weather days and a bucketful of cold grey ones, it's rained more often than not and the past three weeks have been dire, the prospect of winter here scares me.

 

And whilst I have been known to get bored in Thailand from time to time I have been seriously bored in the UK this trip because there are so few options - unless you have family and close friends here and/or unless you live in an area such as London where there are lots of inexpensive entertainment options, living in a large town means your most probable options are work, TV, the pub, a good book or sleep. At least back home in Thailand I have my garden and a climate that allows me to do almost anything outdoors and to plan it in advance. Talking of planning in advance: unless you run a car in the UK all travel has to be booked at least a month in advance otherwise the cost of tickets and hotels rises massively, apart from bus pass travel that is.

 

My advice to people thinking of pulling the plug and leaving Thailand: by all means pull it but be ready to push it back in quickly, try going home for a few months and see how you feel about things - the first four to six weeks are probably the hardest so give it some time. I've given it thirteen weeks and I've decided, the UK is a nice place to visit but Thailand is my home, it's the place I want to be and where I'm the happiest.

Yes sir to each his own!

 

I moved back to the USA five years ago and have no plans to ever set foot in Thailand again.

 

Lots of the same reasons, different location.

 

Florida has an excellent year round warm climate.

 

Large house, land with many Thai fruit trees, close to the beach.

 

Plenty of things to see and do.

 

People drive sanely!

 

Florida offers quick escape to the Caribbean and other islands that we just like much better than Thailand.

 

Everyone should seek out there own happiness, for it is only them that can ever understand what makes them happy.

[WinterGael]

On 9/6/2018 at 10:41 AM, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

You can live quite well on $2000 a month in Canada. Much better than in Thailand. Of course, one would assume that by the time you are retired, you would own your own place instead of renting. My mom gets less than $2000 a month and she lives like a queen. People over 60 in Canada get a lot of discounts, she only buys organic at the supermarkets and on top of that she is able to save money. Travels to Europe twice a year.

 

Canada is dirt cheap buddy. You are in for quite a shock.Canada

Where do you get the idea that Canada is dirt cheap? I love in Canada 1/2, as do my brothers and sisters.  At 2000$ a month you are a pauper in Canada. The only real benefit is having medical. There are not that many perks for being over 65. My mother and her husband make 3000 a month between them and they are in their 70s/80s. They can't afford to go to movies, or for dinner, travel, or much else. They lost their home years ago when the bank foreclosed on them. Their rent is almost 1/2 their income. The cost of food here is outrageous and the over 65 perks are minimal... First you have to be able to afford them to take advantage of them. 

 

My mortgage in Thailand 250, my brothers mortgage in Cranbrook 1200. 

 

Our monthly grocery bill in Thailand 150-200 for 2, the average my brothers and sisters pay in Canada is 500-700 for 2 a month, depending on how much healthy food you want. 

 

Our utilities in Thailand come to about 80 a month, with air, for a 3 bedroom townhouse. My sister pays 80 a month just for electricity in a 2 bedroom house. Cable and Internet cost her 150, gas averages to 70 a month, and her cell phone is 75 a month, basic plan. 

 

All numbers in Canadian dollars. 

 

I have friends in canads who are struggling to live making 100000 a year because the cost of living in Canada is so high. My wife and I live a very good life here in Thailand on 35000 baht a month, and we save money. 

 

Oh yes... Can't forget this... Medical... I pay 1700 baht a month. But then I told the insurance company I did not want a private room, that the provincial public hospitals were fine with me, and I did not care if noone spoke English. Their quote went from 4800 baht down to 1700 baht a month by doing that. 

 

Edited September 28, 2018 by WinterGael

[KhunFred]

The comments about living "quite well" on $2000 a month in Canada, have GOT to be a windup. Even in a low-cost part of the United States, such as Alabama, you would not be living well on that amount. The Canadian healthcare system would certainly be an enticement to stay, but there's more to life than hospitals.

[JLCrab]

On 9/27/2018 at 5:23 PM, bwpage3 said:

Florida has an excellent year round warm climate.

Large house, land with many Thai fruit trees, close to the beach.

BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA (1914)

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea! 
You and me, you and me, oh how happy we'll be! 
When each wave comes a-rolling in 
We will duck or swim, 
And we'll float and fool around the water. 

 

Over and under, and then up for air,
Pa is rich, Ma is rich, so now what do we care? 
I love to be beside your side, beside the sea, 
Beside the seaside, by the beautiful sea! 

 

[blackhorse]

Where do you get the idea that Canada is dirt cheap? I love in Canada 1/2, as do my brothers and sisters.  At 2000$ a month you are a pauper in Canada. The only real benefit is having medical. There are not that many perks for being over 65. My mother and her husband make 3000 a month between them and they are in their 70s/80s. They can't afford to go to movies, or for dinner, travel, or much else. They lost their home years ago when the bank foreclosed on them. Their rent is almost 1/2 their income. The cost of food here is outrageous and the over 65 perks are minimal... First you have to be able to afford them to take advantage of them. 
 
My mortgage in Thailand 250, my brothers mortgage in Cranbrook 1200. 
 
Our monthly grocery bill in Thailand 150-200 for 2, the average my brothers and sisters pay in Canada is 500-700 for 2 a month, depending on how much healthy food you want. 
 
Our utilities in Thailand come to about 80 a month, with air, for a 3 bedroom townhouse. My sister pays 80 a month just for electricity in a 2 bedroom house. Cable and Internet cost her 150, gas averages to 70 a month, and her cell phone is 75 a month, basic plan. 
 
All numbers in Canadian dollars. 
 
I have friends in canads who are struggling to live making 100000 a year because the cost of living in Canada is so high. My wife and I live a very good life here in Thailand on 35000 baht a month, and we save money. 
 
Oh yes... Can't forget this... Medical... I pay 1700 baht a month. But then I told the insurance company I did not want a private room, that the provincial public hospitals were fine with me, and I did not care if noone spoke English. Their quote went from 4800 baht down to 1700 baht a month by doing that. 
 

That's funny. Please tell us which insurance accepts 1700 baht a month at your age? You talking accident or medical?

[Sheryl]

That's funny. Please tell us which insurance accepts 1700 baht a month at your age? You talking accident or medical?

There are policies that cheap (e.g. Aetna Sapphire plan) but they are scarcely worth having as the per hospitalization limit is way too low to cover a catastrophic illness or accident.

 

You need at least 1 million baht cover (per episide: more if the limit is per year) if planning to use only government jospitals. About 4 times that if you want the option of using private hospitals.

 

Room charge is not the main driver of costs.

 

Not only is the per illness limit of this plan only 300k but the maximum surgical fee is only 22K. That will cover only the simplest of surgeries. Should you need a stent placed for heart disease it is around 150k in a govt hospital.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

[mogandave]

How good it the Thai “social security” coverage?

It’s (I think) 450 a month.

[Sheryl]

How good it the Thai “social security” coverage?

It’s (I think) 450 a month.

It is definitely the best insurance deal to be had if you can get it. There is no limit on coverage amount and it covers both in and outpatient. The only limitation is that you can only use it at the hospital you register under the scheme at (or other hospital they refer you to). Where people have difficulties is usually do to being registered at a really poor quality hospital. Most private hospitals decline to join the scheme. Selection of hospital is very important and warrants some investigation. It is possible to change selection at certain times of the year.

Once covered by Soc Sec for I think 13 months you can continue it for life making the oayments on your own.

For someone settling here who can't afford private insurance it would be worth trying to work for the first year just to have this.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[balo]

On 9/27/2018 at 5:23 PM, bwpage3 said:

Plenty of things to see and do.

 

People drive sanely!

 

Just remember to bring a gun , you don't want to walk out late at night in US cities . 

[InsertNameHere]

On 9/5/2018 at 8:31 AM, baansgr said:

Eking out on 40k a single man. Me and three kids live very nicely on 30k a month, and we can even afford to go to Ramayana water park this weekend. Food, utilities just about everything except booze is cheap here.

 

Yes, I was thinking the same thing as 40k is a lot unless you want to live above your funds which a lot tend to do all over the world. I do not have children but me and wife take care of her sons kids (2) during the week to be able to go to school as his mother in law does not take the children to the one by his house. 2 kids plus 2 dogs (ours).

[lumply]

On 9/5/2018 at 5:32 AM, meechai said:

Yes like I said basically Thais can & do of course live on less

 

Would I want to live on $300 a month? Nah

 

As for health insurance yeah I'm over 60 & never been sick as an adult aside from 1 food poisoning I rode out in Thailand..

Will I eventually be sick enough to need help?

Have a heart prob?

 

Cant say but many do & they without insurance in Thailand have become a real sore spot for others retiring there as the Thai government has taken notice

of many like yourself. But good luck to you or hope your luck continues to hold tight or until Thai Imm forces you to have it rather than a go fund me page later ?

 

 It's great to hear that you do not have any (discernable) health issues at the age of 60+. In fact just like me at the same age but during an aeromedical license exam I was diagnosed with hypertansion. Labelled the silent killer if not treated sooner than later; all well now, however with familial history of stroke it could have been another story. Genuinly, have a long healthy life but be aware of high BP

[bwpage3]

On 9/28/2018 at 8:38 AM, WinterGael said:

Where do you get the idea that Canada is dirt cheap? I love in Canada 1/2, as do my brothers and sisters.  At 2000$ a month you are a pauper in Canada. The only real benefit is having medical. There are not that many perks for being over 65. My mother and her husband make 3000 a month between them and they are in their 70s/80s. They can't afford to go to movies, or for dinner, travel, or much else. They lost their home years ago when the bank foreclosed on them. Their rent is almost 1/2 their income. The cost of food here is outrageous and the over 65 perks are minimal... First you have to be able to afford them to take advantage of them. 

 

My mortgage in Thailand 250, my brothers mortgage in Cranbrook 1200. 

 

Our monthly grocery bill in Thailand 150-200 for 2, the average my brothers and sisters pay in Canada is 500-700 for 2 a month, depending on how much healthy food you want. 

 

Our utilities in Thailand come to about 80 a month, with air, for a 3 bedroom townhouse. My sister pays 80 a month just for electricity in a 2 bedroom house. Cable and Internet cost her 150, gas averages to 70 a month, and her cell phone is 75 a month, basic plan. 

 

All numbers in Canadian dollars. 

 

I have friends in canads who are struggling to live making 100000 a year because the cost of living in Canada is so high. My wife and I live a very good life here in Thailand on 35000 baht a month, and we save money. 

 

Oh yes... Can't forget this... Medical... I pay 1700 baht a month. But then I told the insurance company I did not want a private room, that the provincial public hospitals were fine with me, and I did not care if noone spoke English. Their quote went from 4800 baht down to 1700 baht a month by doing that. 

 

Why don't you compare the cost of living in Thailand with the cost of living in Africa?

 

It would make just as much sense.

 

Apples to apples.

[bwpage3]

8 hours ago, balo said:

 

Just remember to bring a gun , you don't want to walk out late at night in US cities . 

What a phobia!

 

I am scared, I will not walk outside at night! You must be joking?

[mogandave]

What a phobia!

 

I am scared, I will not walk outside at night! You must be joking?

 

Wussies are often scared to go out at night.

 

Why bring a gun anyway? Cheaper and better quality guns available in the states.